Mini-Drama, Maximum Impact: The Role of Narrative Media Exposure in Breast Cancer Prevention Among Chinese Young Women

Grounded in the cognitive mediation model (CMM), this study develops an adapted framework to examine how exposure to narrative media influences Chinese women's breast cancer screening intention. Our hypothesized model was largely supported by an online survey with a nationwide sample of 946 Chinese women. The results indicated that mini-drama exposure had the strongest positive effect on screening intention, surpassing the impact of traditional TV dramas, while movie exposure showed no significant effect. Additionally, mini-drama exposure was the most effective in fostering cognitive elaboration, which positively predicted factual knowledge acquisition, and it also helped reduce fear responses, unlike TV dramas, which heightened fear. Fear was positively associated with culture-based knowledge, whereas cognitive elaboration was positively associated with factual knowledge. These findings suggest that mini-drama may serve as a particularly effective tool for health communication, as it fosters cognitive engagement without overwhelming audiences with fear. Future research should explore additional mediators and moderators to better understand the unique impact of mini-dramas on breast cancer prevention.